At the same time ABC radio was counting the votes in its Classic 100 Piano poll, British-Australian pianist-composer Stephen Hough was playing a concerto that would barely rate a mention.

Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, one of the shortest in the canon and written in just three days, was immensely popular in the 19th century, and there are more than 100 recordings of it, but it has been performed rarely here – just three times with the Sydney Symphony, the last one in 1986.

Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles led this sparkling performance by one of the world’s top pianists which left you wondering why we don’t hear it more often. Its three movements, played straight through, contain enjoyable and substantial fare for both player and listener – passionate stormy runs and arpeggios in the first movement, an achingly lovely adagio and that special mercurial Mendelssohn magic in the finale.

On top of that there are fine orchestral moments, including some rich brass writing with heroic trumpets in the arresting opening Allegro, leading straight into serene solo introduction to the Andante – a lovely moment that brings to mind the famous transition from the first to the second movement of the...